[OLD] Have As Good A New Monday MMP As Possible

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Johnny la, I hope your tv likes its new home. May you assemble it easily.

I’m a bit surprised that things measured out. Not my forte. After the wall painting in February, I’m still trying to get the furniture to work. Who knew moving 2 bookcases would throw things in disarray?!! Talk about a domino falling mine field.

The nice salesperson at Visionworks was able to use in store coupons to knock about 100 dollars off the price and then there was a buy 2 get money off thing. First time I’m getting 3 pairs. My glasses are usually 300 for just the lenses, then around 100 for the frames. So I budget 600 for glasses. She got me to 650 for 3 pairs.

I have done the taxes and got the refund, so the glasses and exam are paid by the refund. Koritza will use up the remainder of the refund with her vet visit later this month.

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Good morning.

It’s currently 38 degrees and wet outside. The expected high is 45, and the day will contain various forms of rain (showers, light rain, rain). Yesterday we had some sun breaks, but then several hellacious hail storms would move in, and the ground would be white for a bit.

Giving the birds bark butter was a complete fluke. We’re regular customers at the bird feed store, so we got one of these Bark butter feeder for free along with a sample of bark butter. The birds LOVED it and still do. The container of bark butter lasts forever too. I’ve seen logs or thick sticks with little holes or divots used as feeders. Yesterday a raven came to visit. He doesn’t come often, but it’s a treat when he does. He loves the bark butter and helped himself to some of that plus some suet, and then took off.

I ran the roll-suck around yesterday and dusted too. I need to do laundry today and ensure I have enough fuel in the Jeep for my commute to Oly Town tomorrow.

Sorry about the broken furniture, flyboy. The new stand looks nice, though.

I need to get some Easter goodies for the grandkids tomorrow. I have been remiss in obtaining some. I’ll pick them up at Haggen before I start work tomorrow. They have a big supply of Easter goodies. I’ll also buy them some new spring/summer outfits later in the week at the mall.

BBBoo, I really hope you find some relief soon.

FCM, I hope that FCD feels better soonest.

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I gave myself a haircut, changed the sheets and flipped the mattress, changed the filters and toothbrush, and cleaned half the kitchen. Now I’m on my 4th coffee, and watching the neighbor’s dachshund take a dump at the top of the hill. Ahhh, Sunday!

“human, awake! I wish to play with the danger noodles!”

364

Morning, everyone!

For those who need some translation assistance: when boofae talks about “being on secondment,” I believe the American equivalent is a brief professional rotation/cross-training. :slight_smile:

Due to a high wind warning (National Weather Service: trees will come down! power lines will fall! cars will blow off the road!!) I cancelled my volunteer organization’s participation in an outdoor event yesterday, so of course the weather wound up being perfect: it was sunny and just slightly breezy all afternoon. The big winds didn’t start until after sunset. *sigh* It would have actually been a lovely event. Oh well. I keep telling myself it was better to err on the side of caution. And it worked out better for me, personally, because I didn’t have to worry about having only two hours between the end of the event and the start of the piano bar thing.

Last night’s thingy* went well! For those who asked, I wound up singing “Social Call,” “Never Will I Marry,” and “All My Tomorrows” – all tunes I’ve been singing for a while, and am very comfortable with. It was my first time singing in front of other people since August, and the evening actually helped clarify some of my current mixed feelings about jazz/performing (too hard to explain here, but the realizations were useful). The hostess is planning to do it again; maybe sometime in May. I’ll likely attend if I can.

*I keep saying “thing” or “thingy” because it was a piano-bar-style private event in a friend’s home, with a professional pianist and trumpet/guitar player but only 10 singers (and we all know each other). $40/ea + a potluck contribution = less than I would have spent to go to a venue, and I got to sing more times than I likely would have elsewhere!

I have a little bit of volunteer-related stuff to do right now, but soon I’ll be getting changed and then heading to the nearby Metro station: I’m meeting an old friend from college for lunch in DC. I haven’t seen her in 31 years! She and her family still live in Philly, but her brother ran in this morning’s Cherry Blossom race and she and her husband came to town to support him. It’ll be good to see her, and meet her hubby and bro.

It was cute before, but for some reason the hair makes it super cute!

This actually made me laugh out loud! :joy:

(And, though I’m taller than your wife, at 5’3 I totally get it!!)

:people_hugging:

Ooooo, I like that! I added it to my “furniture ideas” list, for whenever I get around to replacing my current entertainment center set.

When Bailey has a treat on the bed and she drops it, she’ll bark at it for a while. Eventually she’ll get it herself, but usually I go pick it up for her (especially now that she’s 14 and it’s harder to get on/off the bed). When I toss it back up on the bed, I always say “Don’t tell anyone how spoiled you are!”

Um, wow! :astonished:

365

Oops. A bit of a mixup. I was originally going to get a NÄMMARÖ from Ikea. Then the Wife found the better one from Amazon. I went to buy that one, and shipping was $50; so The Missus took my card and tried to order with her Prime account. Shipping was still $50, so she gave my card back. Exhausted from the week, tired from setting up the new TV, blahblahblah… I accidentally ordered the Ikea one. I tried to cancel online, but it was too late. I got a return barcode, and ordered the nicer shelves from Amazon. I just got off the phone with Ikea. They said that when I get a tracking number, I can call them back and they can cancel then.

366

Since this is the first time it’s happened, no. I was supposed to schedule a physical a couple months ago; by the time I get around to doing that I’ll probably have forgotten about this issue.

I woke up about fifty minutes ago. After reading your list, I’m ready to go back to bed.

Holy cow. When I first retired from the Navy, I could get a free eye exam and two pair of glasses each year. That changed around fifteen years ago; now I have to pay a civilian doctor for the eye exam, and can only get one free pair. Which is what I normally do. Last time I went (two years ago) I was pleasantly surprised to be offered my choice of three different frames instead of the old plastic “birth control” glasses. Now if only I could get submarine glasses again…

Military folk can think of it as being TAD/TDY to another command. (And it’s pronounced seh-COND-ment, not SEC-ond-ment.) It’s boofae’s “wellbeing team” that has me puzzled.



46 and NOS; high 50, low tonight 28. Low for the next week is 36, and there are a couple of predicted highs in the 60s, so maybe we’re done with freezes at last. The rain stopped yesterday midafternoon, despite the threat of overnight thorms.

No real plans for the day, other than sloth, though there’s a largish hunk o’ meat that needs to be moved from the fridge to the crockpot.

367

:open_mouth:
Mine were 140, and that’s with progressives, insurance, coating, and a different prescription in each lens.

368

Love those stools! Pleasing design and they fold right up and can be stashed away til needed. Costco sells them in a two pack also. At my daughters house there is one in each bathroom so little ‘uns can independently reach the sink for hand washing.

I have one in the kitchen to reach the upper shelves of the kitchen cabinets built alllll the way to the ceiling in my 1880’s house and one permanently tucked behind the couch near the thermostat in the living room. When the house gained a furnace and thermostat many years after it was built whoever installed must have been 6’6’’ because none of the settings can be seen by mere mortals such as my 5’5’’ self. Well, since senescence has struck, I’ve shrunk to 5’4 1/2. Old age humbles all bones (and intervertebral discs).

I think we should designate it the official Mumper Helper Step Stool~MHSS.

If you have a Covid test on hand might be worth checking so that can be eliminated. The current strain is sneaky. If either of you is Medicare aged you can get 8 tests free every month from your drug plan.

I suspect you’re right though, about the close quarters fuel tank work. That or the lovely avalanche of spring pollen we are all being treated to.

Please post pictures of the finished treasures, they are such fun to see!

It would be surprising if it didn’t, has close as they were and as traumatic as his last year was. MIL should be able to get grief counseling from FIL’s hospice team. They should at least be checking in on her periodically.

369

We’re both on Medicare, but just part A. My retirement insurance is better and cheaper than any of the supplemental plans. And it does cover COVID tests - we have a dozen or so in the hall closet.

We’re back from a run to the boat yard and the marina. Here’s hoping it’s not as windy tomorrow as it was today - else it’ll be tricky to get tied up by the travel lift. We put the main cabin floor back in place and got a bunch of the random stuff moved out of the way. We’ll find out from the boat yard workers what else we need to move so they have access to install the new equipment and run the wires.

Speaking of glasses, I pay $10 copay, plus $40 for the photos of the inside of my eyeballs. That’s all. My insurance covers frames up to a certain dollar amount (I’m good with the cheapies), transitions, progressives, and a UV coating. It’s thru VSP - a really good deal!

I just put the 3rd load in the washer, and the first load has been put away. Time to crochet!

370

For me it’s Bombay for G&T, or Beefeater for a martini.

Second time around. First wife was 21 years.

371

Reminder has been set: the big bin being rolled out to the curb.

Had a couple scrambled eggs, plus one (1) Triscuit topped with one (1) entire clove of roasted garlic.

Needless to say, some minty Listerine was called for before re-crashing was in order.

But I got a couple more hours sleep before an ill-timed call of nature forced me back up. However, when nature calls … you answer!

When my Other Shoe died, I went (almost literally) kicking and screaming to the 1st session of the local grief support group.

But being with people who are being dumped down the same (or similar) hole is surprisingly uplifting, in a “we’re all in hell together” sort of way.

Holy frick, y’all need to check out zenni dot com some of their frames are, like, ten bucks (though they do have fancier frames for more $) and even the fancy coated/bifocal/progressive/darken in sunlight lenses are reasonable.

Not linking so y’all don’t think I’m a complete shill.

Wouldn’t have guessed that; thanks for saving me some embarrassment in case this word ever comes up in conversation.

Well, these zombies on my dumb phone game ain’t gonna kill themselves, so I might give up on sleeping for the day & get on with that.

Key word: might.

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Glad to hear it! And I seriously envy you your vision plan.

373

Well, I got that much done already. I’m on the train which is just leaving the airport station. The wifi on the airplane was flaky; it might take 5 minutes to load Google’s home page and 15 to load CNN’s. Odd. Usually it’s either dead or alive; stupid-slow is not something I’ve seen.

All that’s left is:



That is about 1 week’s worth of household productivity for me.

Now you’re just showing off. Somebody make her stop! Shoe, Boo, Swampy, Nellie, somebody. :grin:

374

I was awakened extra-early by a call from Old Flame. I am not the most coherent person upon awakening and usually sound like one of the old El conductors in Chicago, who spoke only in vowels. (Actually, it was just a crappy PA system, but you still had to know that “AW-aa” meant the next stop was Wabash.) Luckily, OF did most of the talking.

Kids will call today. Yay! I need to find out if son and wife are coming here next Sunday or if I’m going there. I also need to water plants, including the new fuchsia. Two of them are supposed to get big, peachy-pink blooms. I can’t wait.

This is exactly what my siblings keep telling me.

But they never say this. :slight_smile:
Obviously I’m no vodka connoisseur, but I understand Costco’s Kirkland French vodka has beaten Grey Goose in tasting tests. I like it, but I often go for the American kind because it’s cheaper, and as I said, I don’t know nuttin’ 'bout no potato juice.

FCM, you once again earn the navy’s E ribbon. I salute you!

shoe, congrats on the raise, and holy moly on the 160 orders!

red, that’s so sweet that Nelson’s dad and auntie are coming soon. Do you know where his mom is? And do you celebrate Nelson’s birthday? I generally dislike dressing animals like people, but a party hat on Nelson would give me a big grin.

Same, only we got soft hail and not as much of it. Still fun to walk in, though. :grimacing: And I’m going to tell my kids about bark butter. I’d get some, but we’re not allowed to have feeders, lest marauding bands of squirrels seize them as contraband.

Buy extras. Old Flame advised me to buy chocolate eggs instead of chicken eggs because the chocolate ones are cheaper. With a little cream, the scrambled version would becomes ganache!

I hope you’re not standing too close. You know what they say about that stuff rolling downhill.

misnomer, you were right to err on the side of caution, and you just know if you’d taken the chance, the weather would have turned on you like a rabid weasel.

Dice, watch out for flying trains!

BooFae, always love the weather forecasts, but this one really cracked me up.

MetalMouse, when do the plumbers come to diagnose and fix the problem?

Boo, how goeth Dental Dilemma: Crisis in Cornland?

375

A question for the assembled Mumpers …

Today in Dallas in the hotel parking lot I saw a fairly new, fairly fancy pick-em-up truck. Big hitch, big tires, etc. Had some dirt on it, so it might actually get used as a work truck, not just as a suburban assault vehicle.

It had Nebraska Cornhusker booster license plates like this:

The custom lettering on the plate was “NO HOPE”.

Any ideas? An oblique way to express support for the other college in Nebraska? Somebody named “Hope?” The truck owner’s ex-wife’s name that he’s glad to not have riding in his truck anymore? Some secret bit of Nebraska humor?

Enquiring minds want to know. It just seemed like humor so dry it blew away in the wind, leaving just the impression of former humor in its place.

376

I’ve got a neti pot thingee somewhere, And use it with wild abandon, but I can get pretty much the same effect by eating wasabi peas.

I hope you’re feeling better, getting some help, Boo. I had something similar a couple of years ago and it was pretty awful.

I have no advice re vodka, Pilot. We use a locally produced vodka called State Vodka ~$10.00/fifth, but I would never sip it straight. We only use it to make Moscow Mules. I bought some Reyka vodka (from Iceland) earlier this year and took a sip and it was pretty raw. Don’t recommend.

Huh? I’ve run out of thread so that’s all from me today.

Y’all be careful out there.

377

SWMBO has been after me for years to get rid of the 20-inch Sony CRT television my dad bought me for a Christmas present in… 1992? The woman who picked up the flat-screens last night just came and got the CRT, the similar-vintage (a little newer) DVD player, and SWMBO’s TV speaker tower that we never use.

Dishes are washing. Pork chops are thawing.

My late aunt had a portrait of my dad when he was a LTJG. She always said I could have it when she died. Mi Esposa hung it on a wall in the living room, and hung two pictures of her family next to it.

378

Don’t look at me. I also did 3 loads, dusted, vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, took the recycling out, and scanned a few more of my cartoons into the computer.

379

I was getting ready for irk when something in my brain niggled.

1a.) I’d looked at my pic of the week’s schedule on my phone this morning, to see who I’d be closing with, but hadn’t really looked at the times.

2b.) About a week ago - likely also on Sunday, when my brain was/is still fried from Long Night - I showed up early. Not, like, a coupla minutes - a whole friggin hour early. I was supposed to come in at 4, arrived at 3. (Spent a happy hour stitching in the parking lot, after my manager - gently - laughed at me.)

Re-checked my schedule just now, and sure 'nuff, I have a “bonus” free hour before I’m expected in.

Gonna get my big hoop out - the one that’s a bit inconvenient to bring to work - and get a few more stitches done.

I mean, I could gather trash & roll out the bin, but … naaahhh. That’s Future Shoe’s problem.

380

The No Hope plate was likely in response to the last five seasons under Scott Frost, who ended up having the worst five year win/loss record since 1960. It was brutal for the football fans.